England v Croatia thread

[H. Pedersen]

When is the draw for the World Cup? I hope we get at least 6 teams that end in ...nia or we're bolloxed for that as well.

I have no doubt England will still get seeded for the World Cup qualifiers, against all logic.

[Batman]

draw is on sunday

[bobo the clown]

There's so many reasons not to like England, and barring a quirk of Geography little reason to actively support them.

Only a scouser could say that.

So convinced our their own superiority, so self based ... yet always craving admiration & approval ... whilst not wanting ever to join in with anything at which they are not in the centre.

So full of shite.

[BWFC_Insane]

There's so many reasons not to like England, and barring a quirk of Geography little reason to actively support them.

Only a scouser could say that.

So convinced our their own superiority, so self based ... yet always craving admiration & approval ... whilst not wanting ever to join in with anything at which they are not in the centre.

So full of shite.

I think based on his England efforts it will be perfectly fair for someone to break Gerrards legs in several places, snap his ligaments and crush his jaw.

End his career. Its what he deserves.

[fatshaft]

When is the draw for the World Cup? I hope we get at least 6 teams that end in ...nia or we're bolloxed for that as well.

I have no doubt England will still get seeded for the World Cup qualifiers, against all logic.

It is pretty self perpatuating, higher up the rankings = easier seeding = easier draw = more chances to win = more ranking points = higher up the rankings = easier seeding. England will be in pot 1 again, no doubt about it.

Apart from the obvious delights of such a clash, England are the team I'm looking for out of Pot 1 on Sunday, with only the top team going through, and Scotland in pot 2, it's the best draw we can get. Does depend on whther you can get a decent manager though?

[fatshaft]

I'm glad England are out - I love the schadenfreude of it all.

Well, something you won't understand is the sense of natural attachment on the grounds of you never having met it's acquaintance. Your comments come as no surprise. No doubt you've selected Brazil as your team of choice when it comes to international footie.

I don't really have a team of choice in international footie - I find it's largely far inferior to the higher club levels of the game, even at the top end of competitions. I've never been that arsed with England to be honest. I'll watch 'em if they're on and I'll cheer if they score a goal but I have absolutely no emotional involvement invested in them, that's what my club side is for.

There's so many reasons not to like England, and barring a quirk of Geography little reason to actively support them.

blurred, I find that attitude disgusting, to write in such condescending and dismissive terms about your country's representatives is appaling (even if it is England ).

And fwiw I certainly don't agree that club footbnall is superior, the Champions League final for instance, has nothing like the excitement of the World Cup or European Championships, and as bob says, only a self centred look at me scouser could come away with such nonsense.

[blurred]

There's so many reasons not to like England, and barring a quirk of Geography little reason to actively support them.

Only a scouser could say that.

So convinced our their own superiority, so self based ... yet always craving admiration & approval ... whilst not wanting ever to join in with anything at which they are not in the centre.

So full of shite.

blurred, I find that attitude disgusting, to write in such condescending and dismissive terms about your country's representatives is appaling (even if it is England ).

And fwiw I certainly don't agree that club footbnall is superior, the Champions League final for instance, has nothing like the excitement of the World Cup or European Championships, and as bob says, only a self centred look at me scouser could come away with such nonsense.

Except I'm not a scouser. Unless you meant 'only a Liverpool fan could say that'. In which case I'd say that's a load of shite. Who's to say that I should support England anyway? What if I wanted to follow Wales because I've got Welsh relatives? Or Scotland? What if I just think international football is largely dirge and so am generally disinterested in qualifiers at home to Macedonia or Israel or Andorra?

And there are plenty of reasons not to like England - their moronic fans, the administration's complete inability to make any decisions, their ridiculous appointments of managers, the fact that the press/media hold such sway over everything, the endless assertions that they are the best team in the world when they are so far short of it its untrue, the mass hysteria around major tournaments, their moronic fans (and yes, I've already mentioned them, but they annoy me so much I thought I'd mention them twice), the fact that they are not picked as a team but a collection of individuals, the uninspiring football they play, the excuses, the nationalistic/jingoistic fervour that surrounds the team, bordering on racism.... I could go on

[fatshaft]

their moronic fans

blurred, you've always come across as very sensible, and not a "typical" Liverpool fan, but

[blurred]

their moronic fans

blurred, you've always come across as very sensible, and not a "typical" Liverpool fan, but

Every team has their morons, and obviously not everyone views the footballing world through the same perspective (I'm not going to condone the very small minority of Liverpool fans who are still happy to belt out Munich songs, for instance) but England fans are just the most irritating type of fan for me.

[CrazyHorse]

the nationalistic/jingoistic fervour that surrounds the team, bordering on racism....

Racism? F*ck off with that shite before you even start.

[blurred]

the nationalistic/jingoistic fervour that surrounds the team, bordering on racism....

Racism? F*ck off with that shite before you even start.

Well ok, technically the Germans/French/Argentinians/whoever we're playing aren't 'a race', and our problems with racism are significantly smaller than some of the eastern european nations, or even Spain, but it's that nationalistic shite that annoys me. And not just the fans, the tabloid media tap into it and come the major finals dedicate whole front pages dedicated to perpetuating national stereotypes, being as offensive as possible and appealing to the lowest common denominator. It stinks, and it's one of the reasons that I dislike the whole England set-up and their followers.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

... and the Germans / French / Argentinians aren't nationalistic at all. Oh, hang on...!

[blurred]

... and the Germans / French / Argentinians aren't nationalistic at all. Oh, hang on...!

Yep, but then I don't support them either. Which is kind of my point.

[blurred]

The dole queue's this way? Thanks.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

... and the Germans / French / Argentinians aren't nationalistic at all. Oh, hang on...!

Yep, but then I don't support them either. Which is kind of my point.

One of your weaker points, if I may be so bold.

[blurred]

One of your weaker points, if I may be so bold.

But I don't have to read the Argentinian, French or German press, and don't live in Argentina, France or Germany, so I can only comment on what I see, surely? There's nationalism, and being proud of your country (which is one thing) but that gets blown out of all proportion when the England football team are mentioned.

[50sQuiff]

One of your weaker points, if I may be so bold.

But I don't have to read the Argentinian, French or German press, and don't live in Argentina, France or Germany, so I can only comment on what I see, surely? There's nationalism, and being proud of your country (which is one thing) but that gets blown out of all proportion when the England football team are mentioned.

Quite. Not to mention how utterly meaningless this fake nationalism is. We're not going to war. We're not celebrating something great about England. I mean, what is there to take pride in exactly? The England team is certainly nothing to take pride in!

So yes, the fake jingoistic fervour that is whipped up around England in the major tournaments stinks, because it's an empty, rotting, hollow shell. It's a complete sham and deep down people know it. Now if the England team did come to represent something we could be proud of, things would be a lot different..

[communistworkethic]

When is the draw for the World Cup? I hope we get at least 6 teams that end in ...nia or we're bolloxed for that as well.

I have no doubt England will still get seeded for the World Cup qualifiers, against all logic.

except the logic that defines the seeding rules?

Just because you're own tin pot team is not a beneficiary of the seeding it doesn't make it wrong or illogical or in fact much different to the seeding which takes place across just about every sport in the world. Engalnd have performed relatively well in the last few World Cups, therefore they'll get a half-decent seeding. Get over it.

[Loyal White]

One man's being fecked around for many a year is another mans under performs whilst wearing an England shirt.

Is another man's playing a centre half anywhere but centre half, and preferring donkeys like Ledley King or Jonathan Woodgate over someone infinitely better on a regular basis.

I'm glad England are out - I love the schadenfreude of it all.

King and Woodgate are better defenders than Carragher.

Just a pitty both are made of glass.

[WhiteArmy]

One of your weaker points, if I may be so bold.

But I don't have to read the Argentinian, French or German press, and don't live in Argentina, France or Germany, so I can only comment on what I see, surely? There's nationalism, and being proud of your country (which is one thing) but that gets blown out of all proportion when the England football team are mentioned.

Quite. Not to mention how utterly meaningless this fake nationalism is. We're not going to war. We're not celebrating something great about England. I mean, what is there to take pride in exactly? The England team is certainly nothing to take pride in!

So yes, the fake jingoistic fervour that is whipped up around England in the major tournaments stinks, because it's an empty, rotting, hollow shell. It's a complete sham and deep down people know it. Now if the England team did come to represent something we could be proud of, things would be a lot different..

But isn't this the core of the problem Quiff? The arseholes in general who believe all the shite are the same ones who go to watch England, with the air of superiority that makes all the other home nations dislike us.

I posted something the other day on another forum, stating that real England fans DON'T believe we're world beaters, DON'T believe we can win, or indeed have a right to win every tournament we enter.

The press build them up and knock them down, it's just the way things are, but when you appoint people like Steve McLaren, who has never done much really in club football but was a good yes man, we got what we deserved.

BUT, regardless of the tactics, i have never ever (i'm 44 btw) seen an England performance as bad as that, the players who pull on that shirt should be prepared to run through brick walls.

Why do they not have the same determination as the other home nations teams? We're from the same island ffs.

Gerrard was anonymous, Bridge was synonymous with a bloke who'd never kicked a ball before, Carson was a nervous wreck.

Only Crouch, Wright-Phillips (apart from not tracking back for the 2nd goal) and Beckham (who was brought on 30 minutes too late) deserve any credit at all.

Carragher??? he should get the same, if not worse treatment that Bentley is getting. Whatever way you want to word it, he's spat his dummy out big time and if i were England manager, he'd watch England games from his couch for the rest of his natural.